After an early period of indeterminate occupation during the first half of the 1st century AD (traces of ground plots) vast public warehouses were built around 70 AD.

These warehouses were organised according to a very regular scheme. Orientated north-south, they were about 35 metres long and 10 metres wide. They were divided regularly, most frequently, into fourteen rooms which opened onto parallel lanes serving the buildings, from which they were separated by side-walks covered with a portico.

The unearthing of this vast ensemble constitutes an important discovery for the understanding of the general organisation of the town (eight warehouses whose storage space covers 3000 m2 have so far been identified, but others are possible). It helps us also to understand better the economic role played by Samarobriva within Gallia Belgica.

The warehouses were destroyed by fire circa 120 AD; the ground space thus freed saw the construction of a large semi-circular public building.

This building has only been partially excavated but a certain number of elements favour the hypothesis of a theatre. The semi-circle of tiers, diameter of about 120 to 140 metres, stretches as far as the former warehouses of the SERNAM on the other side of the Rue Legrand d'Aussy and on the site of the railway lines. The monument backed onto a slight natural slope and opened to the north and towards the River Somme.

The theatre was served by a road that ran along the façade wall, on the side of the Rue de la Vallée, and, it seems, by a vast esplanade certain elements of which appear to the west of the building. Taking into account the estimated area of the edifice, of which only a small part has been excavated, the capacity of the theatre can be estimated at more than 5,000 spectators.

The discovery of this public building also constitutes a major discovery contributing to the completion of our vision of the monumental buildings of the antique town, and is a supplementary proof of its importance. Samarobriva, had no reason to envy the towns of southern Gaul, of North Africa and of Italy.

The 3rd century corresponded to a serious urban crisis from which Samarobriva did not escape. The eastern quarters of the town were abandoned and the sector of La Vallée was used as a public dump, then as a cemetery between the end of the 3rd and the 4th centuries.

A few more than two hundred graves have been revealed. They are burial graves in which the deceased were interred mainly in coffins. While in most of them no funerary objects have been found, a small percentage contained vases, glass objects, monetary coins as well as many bronze, silver and gold jewels. The absence of material could signify the inferior social level of the deceased, but a modification in burial customs is not to be excluded in this period which witnessed the appearance of Christianity in Amiens.

Thanks to excellent conditions of conservation, the study of bones, combined with that of other remains, should allow the obtaining of a detailed image of part of the population of Amiens at the end of Antiquity, of its ethnical and social composition (including the possible presence of 'barbarians') and its state of health (alimentation, illnesses …).

The excavations in the field were finished in mid March. Since then the study of the important documentation and objects collected is being carried out and should last several months. The continuation of the urban development programme (ZAC) should enable us in the near future to complete and clarify our knowledge of these ancient monuments.

The exceptional state of conservation of the remains had led the urban community of Amiens-Métropole to reflect on the different hypotheses of possible conservation. At the moment the project is under study and should soon result in a more permanent display of this noteworthy and unexpected heritage for the town of Amiens.